Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 738,514. PATBNTED SEPT. 8, 1903. G. W. BECK- AUE-TYLENE GAS GENERATOR. urmcuxox rum) MA! 18, 1903.

F0 MODEL UNITED STATES iPatented September 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. BECK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ELEOTROLITE GAS LAMP (10., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ACETYLENE-GA S GENERATOR.

:SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,514, dated September 8, 1903.

Application filed May 18, 1903. Serial No.157,634. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York, city and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a vertical sectional view of a generator in the form of a tab1e-lamp.

This invention relates more specifically to improvements in generators of that type wherein the carbid is fed to a body of water in graduated quantities automatically controlled by the pressure of gas generated.

The main object of the invention is to provide a generator in which the gas is collected in the carbid-holding chamber and from there passes to a suitable gas-holder, the waterholder or gas-generating chamber being con nected to the carbid-holder through the carbid feed-passage only, whereby the gas must pass from the generating-chamber up through the earbid feed-passage and thence through the carbid to the gas-holder, and water cannot pass into the carbideholder should the generator be upset when the valve is closed. One purpose of this is to cause the ascending gas to contact with that portion of the carbid in the carbidholder that is to be the next charge to pass downward through the feed-opening to the water-holder, so that the generator will be self-cleaning to the extent that any carbid partly slaked or decomposed around the feed-opening by the upward passage of the moist gas will on the next operation of the feed-valve be forced by the weight of the carbid in the holder down through the feedopening, fresh dry carbid taking the place of that discharged. By this means the carbid in the top or upper part, of the oarbidholder will remain always dry and the carbid-holder will be entirely free of slaked or partially-slaked cal-bid. Another purpose of this is to seal the generating-chamber, so that should the generator be upset the water therein could not pass through the feed-passage into the carbid-holder.

the carbid-holder, thereby generating a large amount of gas and rendering the apparatus very dangerous and unsafe.

Referring to the various parts by numerals, 1 designates the base or water-holder of the generator, 2 the Gfll'bl(l-l10l(16l,tfld 3 a central depending support secured to the carbid-holder and adapted to be detatchably connected to the top of the water-holder, said support forming with the water-holder a narrow gas-generating chamber and in the present instance serving asa standard-like handle, which may be grasped when it is desired to move the generator.

The carbid receptacle or holderis substan I tiaily bowl-shaped and has its downwardly converging sides prolonged or extended inwardly beyond the junction with the upper edge of the chamber or support 3, as indicated at 4:, to form a partition separating the carbidchamber from the gas-space below, the lower end of said carbid-holder terminating in a feed-opening 5, through which is arranged to work a feed-plunger 6, there being no communication between the water-holder or generating-chamber and the interior of the carbid-holder except through said feed-opening and the generating-chamber being otherwise hermetically sealed.

Mounted upon the underside of the carbid-holder, concentric with the feed-aperture thereof, is a housing-ring 7, which forms, in conjunction with the under side of said holder, a receptacle within which is mounted a flexible valve-ring 8, through which works the feed-plunger. The inner margin of this ring is brought to a blunt edge to reduce the friction between it and the feed-plunger.

I A cap 9 is threaded upon the housing-ring,

the lower end of said cap underlying and bearing upon the lower surface of the valvering to clamp said ring in position and to compress it slightly to compensate for wear and to insure a gas and liquid tight joint between the feed-plunger and said ring. The cap 9 is of course provided with a central aperture larger in diameter than the internal diameter of the valve-ring, so that it will not interfere with the vertical reciprocation of the feed-plunger.

The plunger is provided with a cylindric lower portion 10, which normally rests within or is in register with the valve-ring 8, a reduced portion 11, immediately above said 'cylindric port-ion, and a second cylindric portion 12 of the same diameter as the lower cylindric portion and which is arranged to be brought into register with the valve-ring when the plunger is at its lowermost position, as indicated in the drawing. The upper end of the lower cylindric portion is made conical, as indicated at 13, so as to act as the deflector to disperse the carbid as it fiows downwardly past the plunger.

Within the upper part of the'carbid-holder is secured the cup-shaped partition 14, having its upper edge secured within the top of the carbid-holder and forming a receptacle for the gas-holder. vided with a central aperture 15, which opens into a tubular extension or housing 16, which extends downwardly to a point near the lower end of the carbid-holder, said housing terminating far enough above the said opening to permit the carbid to flow readily through said fecdbpening; Within the receptacle formed by the cup-shaped partition is arranged an expansible and collapsible gas-holder, preferably a rubber bag 17, which is provided at the center of its lower wall with an orifice in;

register and communication with the tubular extension 16.

the partition and is threaded into a clamping-ring 19, which is rigidly secured within shaped partition, but also clamps the tubular housing against the under side of' said partition.

The stem 20 of the feed-plunger extends axially through the tubular housing 16 and through the upper side of the gas-holder and is rigidly clamped to the upper wall of the said holder by means of suitable clamping washers and nuts, the upper end of said stem being threaded for this purpose. A coiled contractile spring 21 is arranged within thev tubular extension or housing 16, its upper:

This partition is pro-- Said lower wall is clamped to the partition-wail by a hollow screw-plug 18, which is formed with a radial clamping flange at its upper end and extends down; through the central aperture of the bag and} end being rigidly secured to the stem of the feed-plunger, near the upper end thereof, its lower end being rigidly secured to a collar 22, seated in the lower portion of the extension and held against upward movement by means The tubular housing 16 is foraminous above the groove 24:, and between its perforations it is provided with'outward-extending projections 25. Surrounding the tubular housing is a fibrous filter 26, whose upper end is closely secured to the housing above the uppermost perforation therein by means of a wire winding or by other suitable means, the lower end of said filter being clamped within the groove 24 by a winding of wire. The projections 25 hold the filter, which is in the form of a tube of felt, away from the openings through the housing and prevent the filter from being mattedor forced into said perforations. The projections 25 may be formed integral with the tubular housing, if desired, or the filter-tube may be spaced awayfrom the exterior of the tubular housing by means of a winding of wire of a suitable thickness around the housing, said wire being arranged between the perforations in the housing.

To the upper edge of the cup-shaped receptacle is secured a spider 26 which supports a reducing or governor valve 27, through which the gas passes on its way to the burner, a flexible pipe 28 connecting the flexible gasholder with the governor. A horizontal rod 29 is threaded through the lower part of the casing of the governor-valve, its outer end carrying a suitable button and its inner end engaging the upward-extending arm of a bellcrank lever 30, which is pivoted on the spider. The lower arm of this bell-crank lever engages under a cross-bar 31, which is secured to the top wall of the expansible gas-holder.

-It is obvious that by screwing inward the rod 30 the gas-holder will be expanded and the feed-plunger raised and locked in position until the rod is unscrewed. When this rod is withdrawn, the plunger will be depressed by the contractile spring in the tubular housing. The carbid-holder is provided with a filling-opening, which is closed gas-tight by a plug 32. There is no gas-outlet from the water-holder or generating-chamber except upward through the carbid feed opening, so that the carbid-holder forms a gas-collecting chamber, the carbid therein serving as a drying medium, by which all of the moisture in the gas is absorbed. The carbid at the feedopening will take up most of the moisture in the gas. This is very desirable, as the generator becomes self-cleaning in that the partly slaked or decomposed carbid forms a part of the next charge to be fed into thewaterholder. It will be noted that the filter is practically submerged in the carbid andv that therefore the gas must pass through the cargenerator or lamp isproduced wherein the.

carbid in the carbid-holder will not be brought in contact with the water of the generatingchamber should the generator or lamp be upset. This feature is of great importance. Should the lamp or generator be upset when the valve is open, a small quantity of water may reach the carbidin the carbid-holder; but the generation of gas will immediately inflate the gas-holder and close the valve, thereby sealing the feed-passage and preventing the further access of water to the carbidholder.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An acetylene generator generating-chamber, a carbid-holder, a feedpassage through which the carbid may be fed, the generating-chamber being otherwise hermetically sealed whereby the gas must pass out through the feed-passage, a feed-valve controlling said feed-passage, an expansible gas-holder in communication with the interior of the carbid-holder, and means whereby the valve will be positively closed by gaspressure to hermetically seal thegeneratingchamber and prevent water flowing into the carbid-holder should the generator be upset when the valve is closed.

2. An acetylene-generator comprising, 2.

comprising, a

generating-chamber, a carbid-holder, a feed-@ passage through which the carbid may be fed, the generating-chamber being otherwise hermetically sealed whereby the gas must pass out through the feed-passage, a feed-valve" controlling said feed-passage, an expansible gas-holder in communication with the interior of the carbid-holder, means for connecting the feed-valve to the movable wall of the gas-holder, whereby when the gas-holder is expanded the feed-passage will be closed and the generating-chamber. thereby hermetically sealed and maintained sealed.

3. An acetylene generator comprising, a generating-chamber, a carbid-holder, a feedpassage through which the carbid may be fed, the generating-chamber being otherwise hermetically sealed whereby the gas must pass out through the feed-passage, a feod-valve controlling said feed-passage, an expansible gas-holder within'the carbid-holder and in communication with the interior of the said holder, means for connecting the feed-valve to the movable wall of the gas-holder, whereby when the gas-holder is expanded the feedchamber thereby hermetically sealed and maintained sealed by gas-pressure.

4. An acetylene generator comprising, a generating-chamber, a carbid-holder, a feedpassage between the two, the generatingchamber being hermetically sealed except when the carbid-feed passage is open, a feedvalve for said passage, means controlled by gas-pressure for positively closing said feedvalve and maintaining it closed to seal the generatingchamber, a gas-outlet from the carbidholder, whereby the gas generated must pass through the carbitfeed passage when the feed-valve is open, and means acting against the gas-pressure to open the feedvalve when the gas-pressure is reduced.

5. An acetylene-generator comprising, a generating-chamber, a carbid-holder above the generating chamber and formed with downwardly-converging side walls which terminate in a feed-passage, a valve for said feed-passage, the generating-chamber being hermetically sealed except when said feedpassage is open, and means operated by gaspressnre for positively closing said valve and maintaining it closed to seal the generatingchamber and prevent liquid from the generating chamber entering the carbidholder should the generator be upset, and whereby the gas generated must pass upward through the feed-passage and the carbid partly decomposed by the upward movement of the moist gas will form part of the next charge fed to the generating-chamber.

6. An acetylene-generator comprising, a generating-chamber, a carbid-holder above the generating-chamber, a feed-passage between the two the generating-chamber being otherwise hermetically sealed to force the gas to pass out throughthe carbid feed-passage, a valve to hermetically seal the feed-passage, a gas-holder in communication with the interior of the carbid-holder, means positively connecting the feed-valve to the movable wall of the gas-holder whereby when the gasholder is inflated the feed-valve will be closed and will be held in its closed position by gaspressure to prevent the passage of gas therethrough and to form a seal to prevent the liquid from the generating-chamber entering the carbid-holder should the generator be upset.

7. An. acetylene-generator comprising, a generating-chamber, a carbid-holder above said chamber, a feed-passage between the two, a feed-valve adapted toclose the feedpassage and hermetically seal the same to prevent the passage of gas orliquid, an expansible gas-holder in'communication with the interior of the carbid-l1older, means positively connecting the feed-valve to the movable wall of the gas-holder whereby when said holder is in dated the feed-valve will be closed and sealed to prevent the passage of water from the generating-chamber, to the carbidholder should the lamp be upset, a perforated passage will be closed and thegeneratingltube extending into the carbid-holder said tube being in communication with the interior of the gas-holder, a spring contained in said tube and adapted to collapse the gasholder and the carbid-holder and extending into the carbid-holder the said gas-holder being provided with a gas-outlet and a feedvalve positively connected to the expansible holder to close the said feed-passage when said holder is inflated, the water-holder being hermetically sealed except when the f eedpassage is open, whereby the gas generated must pass through the feed-passage into the carbid-holder and through the carbid therein to the filter and means acting against the gaspressure to open the feed-valve when said pressure is reduced.

' 9. An acetylene generator comprising, a water-holder, a carbid-holder, a feed-passage between said holders,an expansible gas-holder in communication with the interior of the carbid-holder, a filter interposed between the gas-holder and the carbid-holder and extending into the carbid in said holder the said gasholder being provided with a gas-outlet, a feed-valve controlling the feed-passage, means positively connecting said valve to the expansible gas-holder, whereby said valve will be positively moved to its closed position by the gas-pressure in said holder, the waterholder being hermetically sealed except when the feed-passage is open, whereby when the valve is closed water cannot enter the carbidholder should the generator be upset, and means acting against the gas-pressureto open the valve when said pressure is reduced.

10. An acetylene-generator comprising, a water-holder, a carbid-holder, a feed-passage between said holders an expansible gas-holder in communication with the interior-of the carbid-holder, a filter interposed between the gas-holder and the carbid-holder and extending into the carbid in said holder, the gasholder being provided with a gas-outlet, a feed-valve controlling the feed-passage and positively connected to the expansible gasholder whereby said valve will be closed by the inflation of said holder and maintained closed by gas-pressure, a spring for collapsing the gas-holder, the water-holder being hermetically sealed except when the feedpassage is open whereby the gas generated must pass through the feed-passage into the carbid-holder and through the carbid therein to the filter, and the water of the generatingchamber cannot flow into the carbid-holder should the generator be upset when the valve is closed.

11. An acetylene-gas generator comprising, a generating-chamber,a carbid-holder, a feedpassage through which the carbid is fed to the generating-ch amber, an elastic valve-rin g in said feed-passage, a feed-valve controlling said passage and fitting tightly in said valvering to form a gas and water tight joint when said valve is closed, an expansible gas-holder in communication with the carbid-holder, means for positively connecting the valve to the movable wall of the gas-holder to close the feed-passage when the gas-holder is inflated and maintain it closed by gas-pressure, a gas-outlet from said gas-holder, the water-holder being hermetically sealed except when the carbid feed-passage is open, whereby the gas generated must pass through the carbid feed-opening into the carbid-holder when the valve is open, and Water-cannot pass into the carbid-holder should the generator be upset when the valve is closed.

12. An acetylene-generator comprising, a water-ho1der,a carbid-holder above the waterholder, a feed-passage through which carbid may be fed to the water-holder said holder being hermeticallysealed except forsaid feedassa e a valve-seat in said feedassa e a valve tightly fitting the valveseat said valve and valve-seat forming a two-part closure device, one of said parts being yielding and elastic, an expansible gas-holder in communication with the interior of the carbid-holder, means positively connecting the valve to the movable Wall of the gas-holder whereby the inflation of said holder will positively close the valve and seal the water-holder and maintain it sealed by gas-pressure to prevent the passage of water into'the carbid-holder should the generator be upset when the valve is closed.

13. An acetylenegenerator comprising, a Water-holder,a carbid-holder above the waterholder, a feed-passage being formed between the two holders, a valve controlling said feedpassage and adapted to seal the same to prevent the passage of gas or water therethrough, the water-holder being hermetically sealed except when the feed-passage is open, a movable wall or part exposed to the gas-pressure, means to positively connect the feed-valve to said wall whereby when the carbid is fed the gas-pressure will move the wall or part to close the feed-valve and seal the generatingchamber, thereby preventing the passage of water to the carbid should the generator be upset. 1

14. An acetylene-generator comprising, a

generating-chamber, a carbid-holder above said chamber, a gas-outlet from said carbidholder, the generating-chamber and carbid holder being permanently and rigidly sealed except for said gas-outlet to prevent the escape of gas or water therefrom should the generator be upset, a feed-passage connecting the carbid-holder with the generatingcarbid-holder, a movable wall or part exposed to the gas-pressure, a feed-Valve adapted to close and seal the feed-passage, means positively connecting the feed-valve to the movable Wall or part, whereby said Valve will be closed by gas-pressure, and means acting against the gas-pressure to open the feed-valve.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 16th day of May, 1903.

CHARLES NV. BECK.

.Witnesses:

JOHN G. PEARSE, WM. R. DAVIS. 

